Cinnamon

Sometimes during the winter months, I just need a day brightener when it's dark and dreary outside. And that's where my spunky friend Carol fits in. On a recent morning, when I popped by to see her, I was greeted at the door with her wide smile and the tempting aroma of cinnamon wafting from her kitchen. I had barely removed my scarf when she pulled from the oven a cookie sheet filled with Cinnamon-toast Heart Crisps. Brighten your day and Valentine's Day with these easy-to-prepare cookielike treats using very thinly sliced bread and everyone's favorite combination: cinnamon and sugar.

Sometimes during the winter months, I just need a day brightener when it's dark and dreary outside. And that's where my spunky friend Carol fits in. On a recent morning, when I popped by to see her, I was greeted at the door with her wide smile and the tempting aroma of cinnamon wafting from her kitchen. I had barely removed my scarf when she pulled from the oven a cookie sheet filled with Cinnamon-toast Heart Crisps. Brighten your day and Valentine's Day with these easy-to-prepare cookielike treats using very thinly sliced bread and everyone's favorite combination: cinnamon and sugar.

Sue Walter doesn't have time to bake much any more. But she does have time to wait in a line of hungry shoppers backed up out of the White Marsh Cinnabon store for a half-dozen fresh-baked cinnamon rolls. While she bided her time in the sugary, spicy-smelling shop recently, Walter, who lives in the Towson area of Baltimore, said that when she does cook, she uses cinnamon more than ever before. "I love the flavor of cinnamon. I put it in my hot chocolate. I even sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg on my fried chicken."

V irginia is home to many apple orchards, especially in rural areas of the state. Varieties such as Golden and Red Delicious, Gala, Ginger Gold, York, Rome, Fuji, Jonathan and Granny Smith grow on 16,000 acres at more than 100 commercial orchards. During a recent trip to Lynchburg, my parents picked several varieties of apples from trees in Bedford, which is a small town between Lynchburg and Roanoke. As a child, I picked apples and peaches in orchards — the neighborhood Peach Orchard is named for one of them — in the Denbigh area of Newport News where Mennonites maintained fruit and vegetable farms.

In the mood for some fun with Garfield -- yes, Garfield from the comic strip? His new cookbook is out, written by his creator Jim Davis with tasty recipes from Barbara Albright. Maintaining Garfield's love affair with food, "I'm in the Mood for Food" is divided into seven categories: Fundamentals, Pasta-palooza, Party Food ... With Attitude! (as in "the party's not over 'til the fat cat burps!"), The Thrill of the Grill, Cool Kid Food (including tips on cooking with kids), Snack Attack, and Sweets & Treats.

Many thanks to all of the readers who responded to my October 6 request for an Indian Pudding. Here are a few variations I hope you will enjoy. It was a very difficult choice; all of them looked very tasty. Rebecca Barnes-Pervere of Hampton revealed her 96-year-old New England grandmothers' secret recipe for her Indian Pudding. INDIAN PUDDING No. 1 4 cups milk 1/2 cup yellow corn meal 2 tablespoons melted butter 1/2 cup molasses 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ginger 2 eggs Scald milk; pour slowly on corn meal, stirring constantly.

As busy as this time of year can get, I try to avoid any extra chores when it comes to holiday entertaining. So instead of hunting for new recipes to serve guests, I rely on a few favorites that are guaranteed to provide holiday cheer. Here are two alcohol-based drinks -- one eggnog recipe and a spiced punch -- plus a third nonalcoholic punch that fit the bill, whether you're inviting a few friends over or throwing a mega-party. The spiced punch is more work but worth the effort.

This is the classic recipe for Hanukkah latkes. Replace some of the potato with grated zucchini, carrots, sweet potato, parsnip, apple or pear if you like. Latkes are best eaten right out of the frying pan. A close second is latkes made within the hour, drained briefly on a plate lined with paper towels and kept warm in a very low (200-degree) oven. Latkes kept longer than an hour tend to get dry and heavy. To keep them as light as possible, cover them with a damp paper towel and a cloth before placing in a low oven.

It's funny how optimistic I was. Seriously. I didn't realize how badly I wouldn't want to write after working. Or how enticing my couch, my cats and my DVDs would be. I've already fallen behind. As of Sunday night, I've posted only 900 words for National Novel Writing Month. To reach my goal of 50,000 in 30 days, I should be writing a little more than 1,600 words daily. Whoops. My readers have been good, though. I've had more than 300 views on my "Read This First!"

COUNTERTOP COLLECTION EXPANDS Kitchen Aid introduces new models of countertop appliances, just in time for holiday gift giving and entertainment needs. Slow cooker. The 400-watt heating element in the new 7- quart slow cooker quickly reaches recommended temperatures for keeping food safe. Other features include a glass lid with a silicone seal to keep moisture in the cooker, a 10-hour programmable timer and a buffet setting to keep food warm for up to 10 hours. Available in cinnamon, black and stainless steel colors.

This is one of those unintentionally cool cafes with original artwork created by local artists, loud colors on the walls, a couple of table tops that double as chessboards and an indoor gazebo area. There's also live music or poetry from time to time. While it's not exactly a chain because of different ownership, the owners of each location are cousins with menus that vary only slightly. Atmosphere: Youthful and charming without pretense. It's a great spot for couples or to dine alone and catch up on your reading.

Ernie Critzer of Gloucester Point shared some family history with this recipe for quick apple butter. Ernie remembers as a young boy that families gathered yearly to make apple butter. Apples were prepared days in advance. On apple butter day, all the apples were put into a 50-gallon copper kettle and slowly cooked over a wood fire all day. The kettle had to be stirred constantly to keep the apples from burning. It was a tedious process, but at the end of the day, everyone took home some of the best apple butter ever made.

Something tasty is in the air. Nothing reminds us of the winter holidays like those familiar scents of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cocoa and sage. And what better way to perk up a holiday meal? Or flavor those Christmas cookies or spice up a turkey dressing? "They can evoke memories of celebrations, and our family and friends," says Steve Logan, a chef for Maryland-based McCormick spice company. "They are intense but inviting." Now is a good time to stock up on those top-10 holiday flavors.

Something tasty is in the air. Nothing reminds us of the winter holidays like those familiar scents of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cocoa and sage. And what better way to perk up a holiday meal? Or flavor those Christmas cookies or spice up a turkey dressing? "They can evoke memories of celebrations, and our family and friends," says Steve Logan, a chef for Maryland-based McCormick spice company. "They are intense but inviting." Now is a good time to stock up on those top-10 holiday flavors.

In the mood for some fun with Garfield -- yes, Garfield from the comic strip? His new cookbook is out, written by his creator Jim Davis with tasty recipes from Barbara Albright. Maintaining Garfield's love affair with food, "I'm in the Mood for Food" is divided into seven categories: Fundamentals, Pasta-palooza, Party Food ... With Attitude! (as in "the party's not over 'til the fat cat burps!"), The Thrill of the Grill, Cool Kid Food (including tips on cooking with kids), Snack Attack, and Sweets & Treats.